Shah Alam [SELANGOR]: Reigning Masters champion Danny Willett will headline the challenge at the second edition of the Maybank Championship next February.
The five-time European Tour winner will be part of a 156-strong co-sanctioned field, that will tussle for the lion share of the US$3 million purse on offer at the Palm Course of Saujana Golf & Country Club.
Willett, who contributed the winning point for the victorious European team at the EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur in January this year, came close to winning the European Tour’s Race to Dubai before settling for runner-up position for the second successive season.
“I am delighted to confirm my participation in Maybank Championship 2017. It’s always great to be back in Malaysia and I have some great memories of my past appearances here in Kuala Lumpur,” said the Saujana ambassador.
“I’ve played pretty nicely here in the past so I will definitely be coming to Saujana with confidence and aiming to put in a strong performance across the four days. Being here this week has given me a chance to see how the course is playing and it was fun being out there this morning with some guests from Maybank and Saujana. I am really looking forward to coming back to compete next year,” added the world number 11.
Maybank chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Megat Zaharuddin noted: “With Danny confirming that he will be taking part in the Maybank Championship 2017, I will be naming other stars in the coming couple of months in the run-up to next February. The Saujana Palm (“Cobra”) course has provided tough challenges to many world class golfers before, and with it now revamped, I am sure our golfing fans can look forward to much drama and excitement during the event.”
On the local front, organisers confirmed that the top ten Malaysians on the final Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour Order of Merit will secure starts at the prestigious tournament, alongside the country’s top amateur on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) at the end of the year. The winner of the season-ending PGM Maybank Players’ Championship will also earn an invite.
